Wrestling

WORCESTER -- Ronan Ball (Maynard, MA), Michael Curtis (Wells, ME) and Nick Day (Northampton, MA) registered pins as WPI rallied from an early 18-0 deficit to win the final six bouts and defeat visiting Springfield 28-18 on Senior Night under the spotlight in Harrington Auditorium.

The Engineers end their dual meet season with a 10-9 record. It marks the sixth straight season with double digits victories and the fourth straight winning season for the Crimson and Gray. Springfield ends the regular season with an identical 10-9 mark.

Tyler Marsh (Upper Black Eddy, PA) got WPI into the scoring column just before halftime with an 8-0 major decision at 157 pounds. Ronan Ball (Maynard, MA) then sent the Harrington Auditorium fans into a frenzy with a pin just 57 seconds into his bout at 165.

Trailing now 18-10, the Engineers continued the comeback as Chase Lind (Fairfield, CT) tallied a 7-4 decision at 174 pounds and Dan Wensley (Wakefield, MA) collected a 7-1 win at 184 in bouts with both schools having regionally ranked wrestlers.

WPI then completed rally with pins from a pair of seniors. Curtis pinned his foe at 197 pounds at 1:53 to put the hosts ahead for the first time all night and Day secured the win for the Engineers, getting a fall 4:33 into his match at 285.

Senior Tyler Wilson (Derry, NH) also took home a victory in the night's only exhibition bout, winning 16-6 at 174 pounds. Before the match, Michael Aquino (Boston, MA) Andrew Ellis (Arlington, MA), Pete Nash (Liverpool, NY), Wensley, Curtis, Day and manager Marissa Pereira (Westfield, MA) were honored as part of Senior Day festivities.

It was all Springfield early as Nicholas DeRosa (Billerica, MA) made a first period takedown stand up in a 3-2 decision to open up the match at 125 pounds. Ian Tolotti (Dumont, NJ) then took home a six point victory by injury default at 133 before Mike Vietri (Dumont, NJ) posted a 11-5 decision at 141 and Kearney Gutierrez (Freeport, NY) recorded a first period pin at 149.

The postseason is next for both squads. The Futures Tournament is Sunday, February 17th at Trinity while the NCAA Division III Northeast Regionals are Saturday, February 23rd and Sunday, February 24th at Johnson & Wales.